American Nightmare follows the story of Denise Huskins and accomplice Aaron Quinn, the victims of a house invasion in 2015 in Vallejo, California, that resulted in Huskins’ kidnapping. Nonetheless, the couple was rapidly accused of staging all of it, with Huskins being labeled “the actual Gone Woman.” Administrators Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris (The Tinder Swindler) got down to inform Huskins’ story piece by piece, highlighting regulation enforcement habits, sufferer blaming and trial by media.
When did you first hear about Denise’s story and determine it’d be your subsequent undertaking?
BERNADETTE HIGGINS It was simply after The Tinder Swindler was launched and we’d already determined that we wished our subsequent undertaking to be collectively. And Uncooked, the corporate that we made Tinder Swindler with, had truly been attempting to get entry to Denise and Aaron for about two years. They approached us with it and requested us if we’d wish to co-direct it. We regarded into the story and it was clearly an incredible story, however extra essential than it simply being an exhilarating story, we at all times ask ourselves, “Why are we telling this story?” — particularly on the subject of true crime. And there have been simply a whole lot of points that actually struck us as topics that we’d wish to shine a little bit of a lightweight on by way of police and affirmation bias and interrogation strategies, but additionally Denise’s story particularly, and the way she was handled. Utilizing her as a solution to shine a lightweight on the truth that this isn’t uncommon, that that is customary observe for reporting sexual assault. They’re instantly put into the suspect quite than sufferer place a whole lot of the time. Denise was actually prepared to go there and to share her complete story, and it’s a really privileged place to be in, to be listening to any individual inform their story. As quickly as we met her and Aaron and spoke to them, we have been offered.
It couldn’t have been straightforward for Denise to relive this. Was she ever hesitant to take part within the documentary?
FELICITY MORRIS Denise and Aaron actually wished their story to be informed as a result of they appreciated that they’re not alone on this and that, hopefully, if they might have their story on a platform as huge as Netflix, that individuals would sit up and pay attention and that change can be made. There’s no denying that after the best way Denise and Aaron have been handled by the police and the media, they’ve a whole lot of mistrust in establishments, and that’s why it took so lengthy for them to agree. The exec producer on the present, Rebecca North, spoke to them for 2 years to say, “We’re the correct firm to make this, and we’re going to take heed to you.” Denise is so unbelievably resilient, has such emotional energy, and in lots of ways in which was kind of what labored towards her when she did come ahead, when she was launched, when she didn’t inform the police in Huntington Seaside [where her kidnapper dropped her off] what had occurred to her. There was a giant query mark over her: “She’s not performing like an bizarre sufferer.” It was actually essential for us to have her inform her story in precisely the identical means that she informed the police in order that audiences may take heed to her and assume, “Would I ever not consider this girl and what she’s telling me?” We by no means need for interviewees to undergo that ordeal of sitting and having to recount what occurred to them if there’s not a motive for doing it, if there’s not an influence that may be made.
After the primary episode, there’s a shadow of doubt on Denise’s story. What have been conversations like relating to the best way the story can be structured?
HIGGINS What we saved coming again to was that there was a trial by media with Denise and Aaron. We wished the Netflix viewers to have the identical expertise because the individuals who have been following the story within the press on the time. We wished the viewers to have that interactive expertise, that lively viewing expertise, I suppose, by watching and listening to it the identical means the police did on the time, and having an opportunity to sit down again and say, “Do I consider this man? I’m undecided he’s that convincing.” We actually wished the viewer to have the ability to get to the top of episode one and actually not make sure what they felt about something.
And you then really feel responsible for doubting Denise and Aaron.
HIGGINS We’re not attempting to overly educate anybody, however one of many huge questions that we wished to depart with episode one and episode two is, “How do I really feel about how I reacted to those folks?” I would assume that I’m a very good decide of character or I don’t fall into any of the pitfalls of simply believing every part I’m being informed. Actually giving folks an opportunity to assume, “Properly, truly, I didn’t consider them,” or “I did consider them.” And, subsequently, how can we reply to victims? How is it that we anticipate folks to behave once they’re traumatized? And in the event that they don’t act the very same means that we act, are we extremely judgmental, and will we be extra empathic or be extra compassionate or simply perceive that not everyone reacts the identical means that you’d react? It’s a chance to essentially shine a lightweight on trauma and the way it impacts folks and the way they reply and what occurs when the folks that you simply assume are going that can assist you flip towards you — and the way that may occur immediately. Aaron and Denise are each very acutely aware of the truth that they’re from a really privileged demographic: They’re white, they’re center class, they’re enticing, they’re tertiary educated, they have been by no means introduced as much as mistrust the police. Aaron by no means thought that he was placing himself within the firing line by calling 911 and asking for assist. He thought that was the correct factor to do. After which Denise was in the identical boat, actually, when she got here again. As soon as the press began operating with this story, and when you began seeing these salacious headlines like, “Is that the real-life Gone Woman?” — it’s the extra enjoyable means of experiencing the story quite than the terrifying fact of it.
The neighborhood in Vallejo, California, from which Huskins was kidnapped in March 2015.
Courtesy of Netflix
Have you ever heard from regulation enforcement because the documentary aired?
HIGGINS No. Felicity and I’ve been invited to talk to regulation enforcement. So there are indicators that issues received via. However we haven’t personally heard something.
What was the largest problem you confronted throughout manufacturing?
MORRIS It’s an unbelievable twisty, turny story that may be described as entertaining, however sexual assault is clearly such a tough and delicate topic, and the very last thing we wished to do was use it as an exploitative crutch. We spent a very long time fascinated by how we inform that story in a dignified and respectful means. Within the interview, she informed us a lot extra of what occurred to her in that cabin. Right here’s a lady who desires to inform her story, so we’re privileged to have the ability to hear that, however on the identical time, there’s a really wonderful line in visualizing that. We labored actually intently from the beginning with our EP to consider how that’s all going to look. That was the trickiest factor to get proper and be sure that we didn’t do a disservice to her in any means.
This story first appeared in a Could standalone challenge of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.